Terry Gene Cox

MURFEESBORO, NC - Terry Gene Cox, dedicated husband, father, uncle, brother, and teacher, passed away on January 2, 2025 at his home in Murfreesboro, North Carolina at the age of 80. Born on September 9, 1944 in Morganton, North Carolina, Terry began his life on a farm learning the values of determination and resourcefulness.
Terry completed a degree in English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1966 and began a 55 year teaching career where he taught generations of students in Northampton County. Over his career he taught at Sunbury, Northampton County High School, Gumberry, Woodland, Northampton County East, Ridgecroft, Hertford County High School, and Northeast Academy. He spent the majority of his career at Northampton County East, where he retired for the first time in 1997, having taught senior English for over 20 years. He finished his teaching career in 2020 at Northeast Academy where he was a devoted fan of the shooting and robotics teams and founded the Ducks Unlimited Club. Over the course of his life, countless former students ran up to "Mr. Cox" to tell him either that they wished they had paid more attention in his class or how valuable his class had been in their lives. He especially treasured hearing how former students had done in their further education.
An avid reader of all subjects, Terry also enjoyed the outdoors with his nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law and son. He taught his son woodworking and gardening from his son's toddlerhood. Terry found great joy in the garden and carpentry projects they planted and built together.
He is preceded in death by his beloved mother, Ora Lee Lowdermilk Cox; father, Nelson Bruton Cox; and sister, Mary Cox Pierce. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Nancy McDuffie Cox; his son, Thomas Grayson Cox; his sister, Billie Cox Harrell; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and cherished friends.
A celebration of Terry's life and legacy will be honored in a memorial service on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 10:00 am at Garrett~Sykes Funeral Service, Ahoskie, NC with Rev Kevin Hanel officiating. The family will receive friends following the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorial donations be made directly to the Mayo Clinic, Department of Development, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905 or online by clicking here. Terry was blessed to receive a life-saving liver transplant in 2005 at the Mayo Clinic.
Online condolences can be expressed at www.garrettsykesfs.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Garrett- Sykes Memorial Chapel in Murfreesboro, NC.